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Fifty years ago today NBC debuted a science fiction TV show called Star Trek. You’ve probably heard of it — the continuing voyages of the starship Enterprise, and all that? I grew up loving Star Trek (in reruns — I’m not THAT old), so I’d have to be drunk on Saurian brandy or dying of Vegan choriomeningitis to ignore this occasion. Here are my six favourite original series episodes. You can bet I’ll watch a couple on Netflix tonight.

1. “Balance Of Terror”
This episode introduces the recurring Federation foes the Romulans with a Cold War paranoia and racism parable. It also has a chess-like spaceship duel that’s second only to Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan’s.

2. “Yesteryear”
I’m cheating — this one’s from the 1973 animated Star Trek series. But given that all the major actors except Walter Koenig (Chekov) returned for this show (and Koenig wrote an episode, anyway), it’s legit Trek in my book. After Spock is erased from history, he must travel back in time to save his younger self. You’ll never forget Spock’s adorable childhood pet sehlat, I-Chaya. Trust me.

3. “The Doomsday Machine”
Can Captain James T. Kirk use a wrecked Federation starship to defeat a humongous tinfoil space worm? Goddamn right he can. Amusing transporter problems and exasperated Enterprise crew members add to the fun.

4. “Devil In The Dark”
Space miners put jobs ahead of local wildlife and habitat. Sadly still relevant.

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The Star Trek universe dimmed a bit in February when Leonard Nimoy who played the iconic character Spock, a hybrid human/Vulcan science officer in the original 1960s series, passed away at age 83. That was followed by the death of Grace Lee Whitney (Yeoman Rand in the original series) on May 1.

But as Jonathan Frakes’ (Commander William T Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation) recent appearance at FanExpo Regina in late April demonstrated, the dream/fantasy that the series and related movies inspired remains very much alive.

Tonight at the RPL Theatre there’s a free screening at 7 p.m. of the documentary Trekkies that examines the whole Star Trek phenomenon. It’s hosted by actor Denise Crosby who played Security Chief Tasha Yar on ST:NG. Here’s the trailer